Study: Obese Workers Have Less Endurance On The Job

BLACKSBURG, VA (CBS) – Obese people might have less endurance on the job than the average worker.

Researchers from Virginia Tech studied 32 people categorized as either non-obese young, obese young, non-obese older, or obese older who were instructed to complete three tasks that required multiple uses of the upper extremities. Workplace patterns and environments were simulated.

Those who fell into the obese categories had 40% less endurance on average than those who were not obese, particularly when it came to functions that required hand grip and assembly. Furthermore, those in the obese group who were female also experienced greater decline in task performance.

“Workers who are obese may need longer rest breaks to return to their initial state of muscle function. Based on the increased fatigue found among workers who are obese, workplace designers may need to consider adding fixtures and supports to minimize the amount of time that body mass segments need to be supported. We believe our results will help to develop more inclusive ergonomic guidelines,” said Lora A. Cavuoto, an assistant professor in the department of industrial and systems engineering at the University at Buffalo, SUNY.

The research is published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene (JOEH).

Must Read Today’s Top Talkers

• Study: Super-long Eyelashes Might Be Pretty, But They Could Be Harmful To Your Eyes
• Labs Continue Record As America’s Top Dogs, But Bulldogs Hit New High
• Lawsuit Filed Against Purina Claims Food Sickens, Kills Dogs
• Penn State Grad Who Tweeted About Thon At Olbermann: I Thought I Could Let Him Know About The Good At Penn State
• Paul McCartney To Headline Dover’s Firefly Music Festival